At least 6 killed in Gujjar agitation in Raj; Army alerted

Published: Friday, May 23, 2008, 21:05 [IST]

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Jaipur/New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) More trouble was in store for the Vasundhara Raje government after the serial blasts in Jaipur when at least six people, including a policeman, were killed and several others injured in police firing and violence in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district today during an agitation staged by Gujjars seeking ST status for the community.

Official sources said police opened fire on an irate mob of Gujjar demonstrators blocking rail traffic. The Army has been alerted after the violence.

About 3000 demonstrators had blocked the railway tracks on busy Delhi-Mumbai route near Dumariya railway station in Bharatpur district this morning, on a call given by Gujjar Reservation Action Committee leader Kirorsingh Bainsla to revive its agitation for the demand after a gap of over seven months.

However, Col( retd) Bainsla has put the toll at 14.

Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said the police was having in its possession bodies of four Gujjar activists and one policeman.

One body was recovered from Patoli taking the toll to 6.

Col Bainsla had informed him that seven bodies were in his possession, the Home Minister said.

He said that the Gujjar leader's claim could not be verified immediately as the area of today's events in Pillukapura was spread over 3 kms.

The mob in its bid to approach the railway tracks to sit on dharna confronted the police and threw stones, used batons and some miscreants from the mob fired at the police from country made rifles.

The mob also indulged in arson set afire some vehicles including a police jeep and a media crew vehicle.

The miscreants also removed fish plates in 100 meter stretch of railway track and damaged some other railway property, sources said.

Sporadic violent incidents were also reported from some places like Hindon and Karuali.

The police initially tried to control the situation by routine means and opened fire when the bid to these means including use of tear gas did not work.